NASA’s Exciting Dual Missions: Unraveling Solar Wind and the Origins of the Universe

Nasa has exciting plans to launch two missions that promise to deepen our understanding of space. One mission will study the sun, while the other aims to explore the origins of the universe.

Shawn Domagal-Goldman, an acting director at NASA, shared some big questions they hope to answer: “How does the universe work? How did we get here? Are we alone?” These are complex questions, and NASA knows that it will take more than one mission to tackle them.

The planned launch is set for Sunday at 10:09 p.m. ET from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

What are the Missions Called?

The first mission, called PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere), will investigate the sun’s solar wind. It consists of four small satellites that will create 3D views of the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona. NASA aims to get clearer insights into solar eruptions that cause phenomena like solar flares and geomagnetic storms, which can create auroras like the northern lights.

PUNCH mission scientist Nicholeen Viall noted that this mission could change our understanding of space weather and how these events impact Earth.

The second mission is SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer). SPHEREx will map the entire sky in infrared light over its two-year mission. This observational project will record data on over 450 million galaxies and more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way, helping scientists explore how the universe has evolved.

Domagal-Goldman compared SPHEREx to a photographer with a panoramic lens. While the James Webb Space Telescope captures detailed images of specific targets, SPHEREx will provide a broader view, giving insights into the overall cosmic landscape.

Rachel Akeson, a lead at the SPHEREx science data center, emphasized the importance of understanding water’s origins, not just on Earth, but on other planets as well. “Every living creature needs water to survive. But how and when did that water get here?” she asked.

Other Space News

These missions come at an exciting time for NASA and space exploration. A commercial lunar lander, Blue Ghost, launched in January and is set to land on the moon soon. This mission will deploy scientific instruments to study the lunar environment before a future human return, planned for this decade—although not before 2027.

In other news, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard the International Space Station since last June, are scheduled to return to Earth on March 12. NASA is working with SpaceX to facilitate their return.

Finally, Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, announced an all-women flight planned for later this spring, featuring notable figures like Katy Perry and Gayle King.